Ezekiel 38:45b
And the name of the city from that time on shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.
It is a perplexing testament of parables and visions which speak to the sadness of Israel's apostasy and the guilt which brought God's people to exile and captivity in Babylon.
The prophet hammers the nations for being enemies of God's people, but Israel herself is even more blameworthy for having pastors and leaders and people who have deserted the Lord.
Ezekiel's language is not easy to read. Much is unfathomable and harsh.
But when the prophet begins to describe in the later chapters the new temple with its precision, beauty, majesty and peace, it leaves Bible students even more mystified.
Here were people whose downfall was profound. They had no right to expect anything but the utter destruction of their land, homes, cities, and lives. Immersed in a foul culture of idols and rebellion against God, they defiled everything good and godly.
How could any comforting word belong in this scene?
And yet, into the chaos of sin and indignity, comes a Word of such exquisite care and surprise that it exceeds comprehension.
Good news is proclaimed. Jerusalem will be restored to unsurpassed glory. Dry bone will come to life again. The priesthood will be pure and sacrifices perfect. The new temple is exquisite.
And all this is delivered in impenetrable language which leaves even the most brilliant scholar or astute intellect in awe.
But skip to the very end of this colossal prophecy and all we need to know is revealed.
What even a child can grasp is stated in the simplest reassurance.
"And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE."
This explains the marvel of redemption. This explains the restoration of a land and people utterly stripped and scattered. This explains the emancipation from sin, the resurrection of the dead, and the promise of peace. This is what resolves the enigma of how a destitute people who pollute their land and poison their own souls can live again.
THE LORD IS THERE.
When you and I cannot explain or justify how we continue to sin, the herald of Good News announces THE LORD IS THERE as your Savior. When you and I grieve over the finality and fearsomeness of death, the messenger of the Gospel declares THE LORD IS THERE.
When you and I feel loss and sorrow and shame, the bearer of the Sacrament points to the simple elements of bread and wine and affirms THE LORD IS THERE.
When you and I, in the midst of things we cannot understand, yearn for a Rescuer, a preacher of the cross points to Jesus and says THE LORD IS THERE.
When you or I stare into an inscrutable future and wonder, "What shall become of me," the Holy Scriptures reveals this unshakable truth: THE LORD IS THERE.
It has often been observed that the older we get the more we realize how little we know. The wisest man confesses he is but a child.
There is a story about a world-renowned theologian who, in a setting among fellow scholars, was asked what he considered the most profound theological statement of his time and he said, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
So, when you puzzle over your future, grieve over your sins, weep over losses, or tremble at how little you know, take comfort.
THE LORD IS THERE.
